Resident gains spiritual cleansing with river plunge

THOMPSON FALLS – Every year, just after the start of the new year, members of the community leap into the Clark Fork River during the Polar Plunge; Jason Slater is one resident who has taken the plunge several times.

Slater said the plunge happening on the new year was important. For him, the experience was something of a cleansing for him; that coming out of the water was washing away any troubles or negative energy from the year before.

He has participated in the event every year for approximately the last seven years. When he moved to Thompson Falls, also about seven years ago, he found the community very open and inviting. When someone asked if he would be participating, he decided “why not.”

The sense of community from the event is one of the draws for Slater. He recalled there were the locals who did it every year, then there were people new to town who did it for the sense of adventure. Every year, though, new people decide to try it out.

“It’s a mixture of people,” Slater said. “We try to embrace everybody; so it’s one of those things, you come together and do something together and it’s fun, it’s a memory.”

The sharing of the experience is also important for some; Slater said participants gain a bond from it and there is a sense of togetherness in jumping into the river, feeling the bite of the cold water then helping the next person climb out.

While it has some sense of spiritual cleansing and togetherness to him, Slater noted others may have a different reason for participating. They could also have no reason at all, beyond it being a crazy, adventurous thing to do.

“We’re all individuals,” he said. “Some people like to do crazy things and some people don’t.”

Almost everyone in Slater’s family has taken the plunge over the years; only his youngest son has not jumped in the river.

Since it is jumping into a river during the winter, health risks seem like they would come up as a concern. According to Slater, though, the risk is not actually very severe. He noted the moving water is about the same temperature as the air outside, so while it is cold the risks are more minimal. There are also usually a large number of people around, as well as warm vehicles, who can help if a problem does come up.

“The water is as warm as it is outside and you’re not in that long,” he said. “Hypothermia would be an issue if you were gonna be in an extended period of time … so that’s not a concern.”

Slater also feels the polar plunge is good for the health of the spirit of community in Thompson Falls and the county as a whole; community members getting together to participate and bond over a shared experience. For him, it also acts as a way to acknowledge the community leaders who help organize and run events in the area.

“It’s a local tradition that’s fun,” Slater said.